The owner of Affordable Towing was arrested Friday for violating bail bond conditions and remains in the Greene County Jail.
Dennis Cleveland, 73, of Kirbyville, pleaded guilty in March to tampering with and disabling the emission-control devices on his diesel-powered tow trucks, violating the U.S. Clean Air Act in order to cut costs.
Cleveland appeared in federal court for a bond revocation hearing Monday. His attorney Jason Coatney asked for a continuance, court documents say. The court granted the request and another hearing is set for July 20.
Affordable Towing is roadside towing, recovery, hauling and mobile repair provider for commercial and private vehicles throughout southwest Missouri. The company used heavy-duty, commercial diesel trucks to tow and haul away vehicles.
Affordable Towing has offices in Springfield at 2023 W. Division St. It also has shops in Branson, Conway, Joplin and Bolivar.
Cleveland faces up to seven years in federal prison without parole.
According to federal prosecutors, Cleveland conspired with Robert Dyche, 67, of Springfield, owner of Full Flash Tuning, to alter the vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act. In March, Dyche pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and faces up to five years in federal prison.
According to previous Daily Citizen reporting, Cleveland admitted that since 2011 he has directed employees to physically disable emissions control components on several heavy-duty diesel tow trucks, according to federal authorities.
He did so to save money by avoiding maintenance expenses on emissions-control systems and by spending less money on fuel, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Court documents state Cleveland was responsible for disabling emission controls on “approximately 10” vehicles.
A message left for Cleveland's attorney on Monday has not yet been returned.
